Improving Workplace Safety in Sudan through Regulatory Compliance Training
Introduction
Khartoum, Sudan - The Government of Sudan has announced plans to increase regulatory compliance training for employees across various sectors. This move aims to reduce workplace accidents and injuries, promote a culture of health and safety within the country’s workplaces, and improve overall productivity.
Key Legislative Framework
The Labour Act, 2017 is the primary legislation governing health and safety in Sudan. It mandates employer responsibilities in maintaining a safe workplace, providing information and training, ensuring protective measures, and enabling worker participation in health and safety matters. The National Occupational Safety and Health Policy 2022 outlines the government’s commitment to health and safety, providing guidelines and setting goals for improving workplace safety.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers in Sudan are legally obligated to provide a safe and healthy work environment. This includes:
- Conducting regular hazard identification
- Implementing measures to eliminate or minimize risks
- Developing and enforcing safe operating procedures
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Training workers on hazards, safe practices, emergency procedures, and the correct use of PPE
Worker Rights
Sudanese workers have several rights regarding their health and safety at work. They are entitled to:
- Be informed about potential hazards and trained in safe work practices
- Contribute to health and safety decision-making
- Raise concerns
- Refuse tasks they believe pose a serious danger to their health or safety
Enforcement and Compliance
Labour Inspectors are empowered to conduct workplace inspections, issue improvement notices, and take legal action against non-compliant employers. Employers violating health and safety laws can face fines, legal proceedings, or even closure of their operations.
Challenges and Limitations
Sudan faces several challenges in enforcing its workplace health and safety laws, including:
- Limited resources
- Understaffing
- Lack of technical expertise
- Large informal sectors of the economy may not be fully covered by health and safety regulations
Regulatory Compliance Training
The Government of Sudan has announced plans to increase regulatory compliance training for employees across various sectors. The training will focus on:
- Enhancing worker awareness of hazards, safe practices, emergency procedures, and the correct use of PPE
- Employer responsibilities in maintaining a safe workplace, providing information and training, ensuring protective measures, and enabling worker participation in health and safety matters
Benefits
The increased regulatory compliance training is expected to:
- Reduce workplace accidents and injuries
- Promote a culture of health and safety within the country’s workplaces
- Improve overall productivity
- Employers who comply with health and safety regulations will also benefit from reduced legal liabilities and improved reputation
Implementation Plan
The Government of Sudan has announced plans to implement the increased regulatory compliance training through a phased approach. The first phase will focus on:
- Training employees in high-risk sectors, such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare
- Targeting smaller enterprises and informal sector workers in the second phase
Conclusion
The Government of Sudan’s plan to increase regulatory compliance training for employees across various sectors is a positive step towards improving workplace safety. By enhancing worker awareness of hazards, safe practices, emergency procedures, and the correct use of PPE, the country can reduce workplace accidents and injuries, promote a culture of health and safety, and improve overall productivity. Employers who comply with health and safety regulations will also benefit from reduced legal liabilities and improved reputation.